In a cursor-based computing environment having a display, a user definable interface (UDI) is displayed upon activation by a user. The UDI has a plurality of levels each having a plurality of buttons and is displayed in a selectable position about a pointer position in a display area to reduce pointer commute. The user selects a visual appearance and shape of the UDI, and the number of buttons. The user assigns a command to each of the plurality of buttons at each of the plurality of levels by dragging and dropping from one or more applications of the apparatus.